Sewing-machine.



J. CLARKE-I SEWING MACHINE-- APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1917.

Patented Apr. 23,1918.

2 SHEETS-$HEET I.

J. CLARKE. SEWiNG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 19:7.

Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

- 2 SHETS-SHEET 2- JOSEPH CLARKE, 0F BELFAST, IRELAND.

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Application filed February 24, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOSEPH CLARKE, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Belfast, Treland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Sewing-lvlachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic stop motions for sewing machines of the class in which the machine is automatically stopped, when the thread gives out or breaks, by the action of a lever normally held out of action by the thread but adapt-- ed, when the thread gives out or breaks, to engage a member, moved by the machine, in order to bring the stop mechanism into action to stop the machine.

Under my present invention it provide improved stop mechanism of the class stated, comprising a spring or equivalently controlled and slidably supported bar, extending from the belt pulleys of the machine to near the head of the machine, said bar having a belt fork, clutch controller, or equivalent, at one end, and, at the other, or head, end of the bar I provide a movable stopper, or latch, which, normally, or

' while the thread is intact and properly in position, lies across the end of the bar and prevents any movement thereof in the direction of the head of the machine. Should,

" however, the thread give out, or break, the

stopper, or latch, will be withdrawn, or moved clear of the end of the bar, by the action of a pivoted lever which is suitably supported and normally held inactive by the thread as its passes from the tension to the thread controller. This lever is so supported and balanced that, when the thread gives out, or breaks, its one end is lifted into the path of movement of a reciprocating striker carried by the needle bar, so that said striker knocks itdown and lifts its other end, causing it to lift, or move, the stopper, or latch, from the end of the sliding bar, whereby the latter will be free to move and so cause the belt fork to effect the stoppage of the machine.

The extent of the movement of the sliding bar be adjusted to suit the requirements of different drives.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aipr. as, rare.

Serial No. 150,668.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, 1 have hereunto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings whereon, T have shown, by way of example, the invention applied to a hem-stitch sewing ma chine of the Wheeler 8: Wilson type.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the back-side of the sewing machine and showing the im proved automatic stop motion.

Fig. 2 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

On the drawings the same reference letters wherever repeated indicate the same parts.

Referring to the drawings Tn carrying out my invention, in connection with a Wheeler & l/Vilson sewin machine as shown in the drawings, I ad ustably secure the belt fork a on the end of a bar I) slidably supported on a bracket If on the machine frame and extending from the belt pulleys c and d to near the head of the machine. To an upwardly projecting part 6 at the head end of the bracket 5 I pivotally support a stopper or latch 6 having a forwardly projecting part 6*. This latch 6 normally, or while the thread is intact and properly in position, lies across the head end of the slidable bar and prevents any movement thereof in the direction of the machine head; should, however, the stopper or latch b be withdrawn or moved clear of the end of the bar I) the latter will be moved forward under the action of a spring 6 such movement being suflioient to cause the belt fork a to change the belt from the fast to the loose pulley and so stop the machine. In some cases, this movement of the bar I) may be used to disconnect a clutch where the drive is efiected through the medium of a clutch.

The withdrawal of the latch 12 is effected, at the required time by a catch lever f, pivotally supported on a downwardly projecting part b of the bracket one arm f of the catch lever f being, normally, pressed downward by the thread m passing from the tension to the controller a. The other arm 7' of the lever f projects under the part 22* of the latch 72 (see Fig. 2), and

7 arm 7 of the lever f when the latter is freed from the restraining contact of the thread. i 7

When the thread is intact, and in proper position, the arm f of the catch lever f'i's pressed down by the thread as above described, and it will be so held thereby that it cannot contact with or engage the reciprocating projecting member 9 on the needle bar When the thread breaks, or gives out, and its pressure on the lever arm 7 ceases, the other arm f being heavier than the arm 7, will fall down by gravity action and will raise the arm 7' so that thelat-ter will be struck by the projection g on the needle bar 9 as it descends, thereby causing the end 7 to be knocked sharply upward and against the part b -of the latch in such manner as to move the latter clear of the end of the slidable bar 6. The barb is then free to be moved forward by the spring 6 in such manner as to cause the belt fork a to shift the belt is from the fast pulley 0 to the loose pulley d and so stop the machine. When the needle is again properly threaded and ready for sewing, and the arm 7 of the catch lever f is again under the control of the thread, it will be pressed down and be clearof the movements of the projection g on the needle'bar g and the outer arm F Will be raised against the action of gravity but kept out of'contact with the latch 6 (see Fig. 3). The machine can be restarted byslmply moving the bar 6, by handle 6 in operation, and it is possible to fit it to an existing sewing machine Without altering the latter inany way.-

Having now fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is V 1. Means for automatically stopping a sewing machine when the thread breaks or gives out, comprising sliding bar mechanism for controlling the machine driving gear, movable stopper mechanism for controlling the sliding bar. mechanism, and thread controlled mechanism, actuated by means connected With the needle bar, for operating the movable stopper mechanism and the sliding bar mechanism.

2. Means for automatically stopping a sewing machine when the thread breaks or gives out, comprising sliding bar mechanism for controlling the machine driving gear, means for adjusting the extent of movement of the sliding bar mechanism, movable stopper mechanism for controlling the sliding bar mechanism, and thread controlled mechanism, actuated by means connected with the needle bar, for operating the movable stopper mechanism and the sliding bar mechanism.

3. Means for automatically stopping a sewing machine when the thread breaks or gives out, comprising sliding bar mechanism for controlling the machine driving gear, spring means fitted in connection with the sliding bar mechanism, movable stopper mechanism for controlling the sliding bar mechanism, and thread controlled mechanism, actuated by striker means on the needle bar, for operating the movable stopper mechan sm and the sliding bar mechanism.

4. Means for automatically stopping a sewing machine when the thread breaks or gives out, comprising sliding bar mechanism controlling the machine driving gear, a bracket for supporting said sliding bar mechanism, spring means fitted in connection with said sliding bar mechanism, movable stopper mechanism controlling the sliding bar mechanism and thread controlled pivoted lever mechanism actuated by striker means on the needle bar for operating the movable stopper mechanism and the sliding bar mechanism.

5. Means for automatically stopping a sewing machine when the thread breaks or gives out, comprising sliding bar mechanism having a belt fork for controlling the machine driving gear, a bracket for supporting said sliding bar mechanism, spring means fitted in connection with said sliding bar mechanism, movable stopper mechanism controlling the sliding bar mechanism and belt fork, and thread controlled mechanism pivotally supported on the bracket carrying the sliding bar mechanism and a striker on the needle bar for operating the movable stopper mechanism and the sliding bar mechanism.

6. Means for automatically stopping a sewing machine when the thread breaks or gives out, comprising sliding bar mechanism having a belt fork for controlling the machine driving gear, a bracket for supporting said sliding bar mechanism, spring means fitted in connection with said sliding bar mechanism, a restarting handle on the sliding bar mechanism, .movable stopper mechanism controlling the sliding bar mechanism and belt fork, thread controlled In testimony whereof I afix my signature mecliilanism ivo'tiillly1 suppgrted Oil the in presence of two Witnesses.

brac et carrym t e sic ing ar mec anism and a striker oil the needle bar for operat- JOSEPH CLARKE ing the thread controlled mechanism, the Witnesses:

movable stopper mechanism and the sliding ANDREW HAMILTON,

bar mechanism. JOHN KNox.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Paten'ts,

Washington, D. G. 

